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House Lannister and Its Need For Family

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  Despite the ending of Game of Thrones occurring in May 2019 (and being lackluster at best), something that has always stood out to me is the way characters interact with one another. For the purposes of this post, we will be limiting our scope of characters to the immediate Lannister family (Tywin, Jaime, Cersei, and Tyrion), as well as some of their interactions with other characters important to their arcs, namely to reinforce the ideas of how they communicate and how therapy could’ve served them. Anyone who has watched the show will surely tell you that this family needed the most amount of care possible. We’ll start with the head of House Lannister, Tywin. Tywin is a hard man, forced from a young age to be cunning after his father made the house appear weak. Moments of tenderness are not his forte and Tywin excels at military strategy due to the impersonal nature of it. Tywin tends to have the best relationship with Jaime, his eldest son and heir. Despite being the best relat...
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Late Autism Diagnosis in Adults

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  A delicate practice that every therapist takes part in is creating a safe and welcoming therapeutic environment for their clients to explore themselves. This is especially true for neurodiverse clients. Autism has become a bit of a buzz word online, but this increased attention on the diagnosis has led to many adults seeking a diagnosis for symptoms they have experienced throughout their whole lives. As neurodiverse individuals who were unaware of their diagnoses until later in life, both writers can speak to the difficulty of the transition from ignoring one’s needs to try and fit in, to accepting the differences and working with them. While this may not be true for everyone, it is a common theme we have noticed among the many different late diagnosed autistic adults we have worked with. Autism has become more prevalent, not just online, but in research as well. Research has pivoted to more focus on different presentations, intersectionality, comorbidities (diagnoses that often ...
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Location: Wausau, WI, USA
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Analyzing PTSD Across The Walking Dead

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  The Walking Dead was once one of television’s most popular shows, with viewership soaring as high as 17 million viewers during episode premieres in 2014. Since then, the series popularity has waned, but its themes still remain. One of the most prevalent is the theme of PTSD and how to rebuild a society when most people are suffering from this, and many other, mental health conditions. The world of the Walking Dead is not an easy one and many characters find themselves in impossible situations that push their psyche to the breaking point. These characters all show similar symptoms with each other, but also display differences in how said symptoms are presented. We’ll start with Carl Grimes, son of main character Rick Grimes, in the season 4 premiere. In the previous season finale, there is a battle between the prison group and the Governor. During the battle, Carl gets the drop on a kid not much older than himself. Despite the kid surrendering, Carl guns the kid down in fear of re...
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Location: Wisconsin, USA
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Nervous System 101: Why Kids Can't "Just Calm Down"

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  Most parents have said, at one point or another, the words: “Take a deep breath.” “Calm down.” “Relax.” Even when said with the best intentions, those words can sometimes prove to be unhelpful and can escalate the situation. It can also feel confusing, frustrating, and discouraging. If your child can calm down sometimes, why can’t they do it now? Are they purposely not listening? Are they being dramatic? Maybe manipulative? The short answer to this is… not usually. When kids feel overwhelmed, their nervous system is the one driving the bus, and their attitudes, reasoning skills, and ability to listen take a back seat. Understanding what is happening in a child’s body during these moments of distress can completely change how we view their behavior and in turn, how we support them through it. What Happens in a Child’s Body When They’re Upset When a child becomes very upset, their body reacts to that stress automatically. This isn’t something they choose to do, and it also isn...
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Location: Wisconsin, USA
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The Digital Sunset Routine: Reducing Anxiety Before Bed

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  A recent study completed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine revealed that 74% of Americans report sometimes, always, or often experiencing disrupted sleep due to stress and 68% report losing sleep due to anxiety. It’s no secret that today’s society is demanding. Everyone has responsibilities they strive to meet, and finding a way to balance them all can feel overwhelming. Often, this stress emerges just as we try to turn our brains off for the day, leading to restless nights. This can result in a frustrating pattern, leading to even more fatigue and burnout over time. The solution to this cycle may lie in what is called the “digital sunset”. The Digital Sunset We live in an age where technology continues to grow and become even more relevant in our daily lives. We use our devices to work, connect with loved ones, monitor our health, track our schedules, seek entertainment, and so much more. These tools all have their purpose, but after a full day of screens and the in...
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Location: Wisconsin, USA
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Culturally Competent Care: What Servicemembers, Veterans, and Their Families Need to Know

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  If you’ve worn the uniform — or loved someone who has — you know military life isn’t just a job. It’s a culture with its own rules, pressures, and consequences. And despite expanded access to DoD and VA mental health services, many service members, veterans, Guard and Reserve personnel, and family members still face one critical question: Who can I trust with my story without risking my career, benefits, or future? That question isn’t fear-based; it’s informed by experience. Military culture shapes how people cope, communicate, and seek support — and it directly shapes the risks tied to mental health treatment. This is why culturally competent care isn’t optional. It’s essential. What Makes Care “Culturally Competent” in the Military Context? Culturally competent military care goes far beyond knowing the terminology. It requires understanding the culture, pressures, and identity embedded in military life. A skilled clinician recognizes the chain of command, mission-first exp...
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Location: Wisconsin, USA
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DBT Skills for Overwhelming Moments

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  There are moments when emotions may feel more than uncomfortable. They might seem too fast, too intense, or just too much to endure. These emotions might come up in any number of daily experiences. One might feel a sudden and intense rush of panic when shopping for groceries. One might feel completely disconnected from reality when arguing with a partner. One might feel strong anger when cut off in traffic. In any of these moments, these emotions might feel disproportionate, embarrassing, or even impossible to explain. These instances are not indicative of emotional immaturity, nor do they mean that you lack the ability to persevere when confronted with adversity. Rather, these instances actually indicate that your nervous system is overwhelmed. Thankfully, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed with these moments in mind. Simply put, DBT is a type of talk therapy that works to teach skills geared toward mindfulness (e.g., tolerating distress, managing intense emotions,...
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Location: Wisconsin, USA
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